tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6892445584591819741.post1187097291320532640..comments2023-04-17T09:19:20.947-07:00Comments on the beginning of wisdom: a holiday parablejen wilkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02934053593868428344noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6892445584591819741.post-65932577316211490362013-12-11T06:09:22.484-08:002013-12-11T06:09:22.484-08:00Hi Em,
Thanks for your thoughtful and civil resp...Hi Em, <br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful and civil response to the post. And I appreciate that you’re someone who thinks before she comments – the world needs more of you :)<br /><br />I hear your concern, and I understand that when a conversation about tolerance is introduced it can lead to concern about the slippery slope. But slippery slopes go two directions, and we’d be hard pressed to find a blog post that didn’t lean one way or the other. The extremes on either side of this particular discussion aren’t pretty, but it’s still worth having the conversation about where the middle ground should be. And I don’t think this post makes an extreme statement. I chose Diwali precisely because of its small number of observers to heighten the sense of hyperbole. It seems odd to chastise retailers for choosing language that recognizes a diversity of belief among their customers. Retailers definitely have an agenda, but I don’t think it’s to bring about the end of Christianity.<br /><br />Warmly, Jen<br />jen wilkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934053593868428344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6892445584591819741.post-68985782246969560252013-12-11T04:38:19.584-08:002013-12-11T04:38:19.584-08:00Jen, I have really enjoyed you blog the past coupl...Jen, I have really enjoyed you blog the past couple years and have been really challenged to think through things you've presented. I have never commented; however, I am going to have to call you on this one. The "parable" breaks down badly here... in your illustration, the Hindu man's holiday is not being mocked or changed or edited: it's simply being grouped together with a bunch of other holidays. Given that only .5% of Americans identify as Hindu, Diwali could easily be overlooked. There tend to be a lot of holidays this time of year and I have no problem lumping them all together in everyday speech... keeps life simpler. But Christmas, in particular, is censored; give me a break - a "family tree?!?!" simply because they don't want to use the word "Christmas"? (from the ChristianPost.com article) It's a direct attack on Christianity. You know they would never try to do a "family menorah" or a "family breaking of the fast" party. Now I fully understand that you do not try to make non-Christians behave as if they have the Holy Spirit and that depraved people are supposed to act depraved. I also get that American Christians tend to get a little hung up on their "rights" and can get a skewed perspective, forgetting their citizenship is in heaven. However, you need to be very, very careful and prayerful on the advice and tone you give to other believers on what battles to chose and which to let slide. Your arguement that love and respect of others' beliefs trumps truth is fine when dealing with vocab words - "Christmas" or "holiday;" but is very dangerous when dealing with issues of homosexuality or eccumenicalism. Some believers can tell the difference; to others, your message just says to keep their mouths shut and go with the flow of public opinion.Emhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11287700023148060189noreply@blogger.com